Manchester United hero Ryan Giggs sets new goals

RYAN GIGGS has spoken of his pride at passing the latest milestone in his incredible career.

His goal in the 2-0 win against Everton on Sunday means he has scored in the league for Manchester United in each of the last 23 seasons, the first two campaigns in the old First Division and then 21 in the Premier League.

“Yes, it is something I’m proud of,” he said. “At the time I was just buzzing we were 1-0 up and it was an important goal in the context of the game. It set us off and after that we played some good stuff. But after the game you are proud to have kept that record going.

“The main thing was the result, the performance wasn’t so important, but I think we played well.”

The main thing was the result, the performance wasn’t so important, but I think we played well

Manchester United star Ryan Giggs

Giggs, 40 in November, scored his first league goal way back on May 4 1991 before some of his current team-mates were even born. Video evidence suggests that strike in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford was actually a Colin Hendry own-goal but Giggs has gone on to score 112 more. His best tally in a league season was the 13 he scored in 1993-94 – his lowest was one, in 1990-91 and 1994-95.

Giggs insists despite their lead of 12 points at the top of the table, the fact that the bookies have installed United as odds-on favourites and that City are in apparent meltdown, United will not suffer the complacency that cost them the title last season when they threw away an eight-point lead with only six games left.

He added: “Obviously it was a good result for us with City losing [at Southampton] but we still needed to do our job and go out and put on a professional performance and that is what we did. We have enough experience in the dressing room to never take anything for granted. You never know what can happen – look at last season.

“You just have to concentrate, keep playing well, do our job and the strength of the squad should see us there – if everyone stays fit. We’ve been in really good form lately and have players on the bench or not even on the bench that would walk into any other team.

“You’ve got to win games and put on performances like we did against Everton. It was a professional performance. The concentration was good, in every department, individually and as a team.” A particularly encouraging point for United was that they kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in the league this season.

Manchester United stars Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs

Giggs added: “It was pretty solid. Last week [at Fulham] we were brilliant at clearing things off the line and were really professional but in this game we kept the ball well which is obviously good for the defenders in that they can have that bit of a rest.

“When we needed to defend we defended and that has shown with Rafa [Da Silva] being man of the match and every other defender putting out a great performance.

“We had to have the concentration. We knew what happened here last year against Everton, we know they are a tough side.” The win set United up for their mouth-watering Champions League tie with Real Madrid. With Paul Scholes injured, Giggs and Rio Ferdinand will be the only survivors from their last trip to the Bernabeu in 2003.

After his exertions against Everton, Giggs will almost certainly be on the bench tomorrow but is still looking forward to the occasion.

“It will be a fantastic game, it doesn’t come any bigger than playing Real Madrid. It is a great game to be involved in. These are the games you want to play in and all the lads are looking forward to it. Everyone is excited.”